DAEL WOLFLE 



reaffirmed. The prompt publication of research findings is 

 highly desirable, as are improved facilities for abstracting, 

 translating, and retrieving published material. Freedom of com- 

 munication, through publication, travel, and international sci- 

 entific meetings is beneficial to all scientists, but most beneficial 

 to those from the scientifically more advanced countries, for 

 they have the knowledge and facilities that will enable them to 

 make best use of new ideas and information. Attempts to with- 

 hold basic scientific information from other scientists are usually 

 self-defeating. Security classification, which may properlv be 

 imposed on technological developments and plans for military 

 use, is out of place and of little effect in withholding basic 

 scientific knowledge from other countries, and is likely to do 

 more harm than good to the country that thinks it can keep 

 basic knowledge secret. 



General Principles and Specific Laboratories 



The recommendations and suggestions of the symposium 

 discussion were general, intended for the nation as a whole, its 

 government, its institutions of higher education, its industrial 

 companies, and its scientists. Much work will be necessary to 

 bring about the proposed changes, but the goals justify much 

 work. 



In the meantime, there is opportunity for an individual 

 university, or for an individual research laboratory — in indus- 

 try, in government, or in a private foundation — to put into 

 effect as many of the improvements as it can manage and as ap- 

 ply to its case. The climate of an individual laboratory and its 

 own individual arrangements in support of basic research have 

 a direct and immediate influence upon every scientist on the 

 staff. 



Allen Astin's remarks about government laboratories apply 

 to all research laboratories: "No laboratory can maintain pro- 

 ductivity in research without high-quality personnel. No labora- 



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